Land council objects over ‘Indigenous’ Voice forum panellist

An advocate for the Voice has rejected claims from an Aboriginal land council that he’s “not Indigenous” - insisting he’s descended from the famous historical colonial-era figure “King Bungaree”.

An advocate for the Voice has rejected claims from an Aboriginal land council that he’s “not Indigenous” - insisting he’s descended from the famous historical colonial-era figure “King Bungaree”.

Northern beaches resident Neil Evers, 81, also says he’s never called himself an “elder”.

He’s being promoted as a “Guringai elder” panellist at a pro-Voice community forum being held on Wednesday night in Manly alongside Independent MP Zali Steggall and novelist Thomas Keneally, but says that’s not a term he uses.

The Metropolitan Local Aboriginal Land Council - the democratically elected representative body for Aboriginal people covering the northern beaches - has objected to his inclusion - saying he’s not Aboriginal and does not speak for them.

President Nathan Moran said the council members had knocked back Mr Ever’s 2011 application as he did not meet the criteria on the basis of not being able to verify his claim and there was no proof he was a descendant of King Bungaree.

Neil Evers (left) and his cousins. Picture: Adam Yip / Manly Daily

“There is a website of the descendants of Bungaree and they spoken out against Mr Evers and others for claiming to be descendants when they are not, there is no proof or evidence.”

He said Mr Neil Evers had claimed Aboriginality at the age of 67 on the basis of a local northern beaches family history book written by a man called Bob Waterers.

In that book, Mr Waterers, who has since passed away, wrote about finding personal belongings of his family and a photograph which he thought showed he was Aboriginal.

“But it’s unverified,” Mr Moran said. “That was not deemed proof of Aboriginality.”

Nathan Moran CEO of the Metropolitan Local Aboriginal LandCouncil. Picture: Damian Shaw

He said the book identified an ancestor called Sarah Wallace but council members found no evidence given that her parents were Aboriginal, or connected to the famous explorer King Bungaree.

The book states: “It has been suggested that Sarah may have been the daughter of his (Bungaree’s) first wife Matora.”

The land council says that’s an unverified claim.

A flyer to advertise a Yes Indigenous Voice to Parliament Community Forum at Manly on Wednesday 23 August, with Mr Neil Evers.

“Neil Evers couldn’t identify that his parents identified as Aboriginal - he has not had any upbringing as an Aboriginal or life experience as an Aboriginal - and this is for a discussion about Aboriginal people.”,” Mr Moran said.

“We are quite frankly bewildered Zali Steggall has ignored us and chosen to sit alongside someone who was not born Aboriginal.

“It is offensive.”

Neil Evers' grandmother, Emily Binsom. He says she kept her Aboriginal descent secret. Picture: Supplied.

Contacted yesterday about the objections of the land council, and his heritage, Mr Evers said there was no doubt about his Aboriginal ancestry.

“One, I have never called myself an elder,” he said.

“I have already been in there, nearly 20 years ago to be registered at the Land Council and it was Nathan Moran who actually accepted my three tier.

“And then I was told, because I come from Guringai, that there is no such area as a Guringai, so they wouldn’t register me.”

Ancestors of Neil Evers: James Lewis was the son of Sarah 'Granny' Lewis (maiden name Sarah Wallace) and German convict John Ferdinand Lewis. The little girl on the left is Neil’s grandmother Emily. Picture: Supplied.

Upon being told the Voice flyer advertised him as a “Guringai Elder”, Mr Evers said “No it doesn’t….Oh right, okay, I have never called myself an elder.

“I might be old, but if people call myself an elder I say no I’m not an elder. All the elders were wiped out on the Northern beaches with the plague. They are the lawmen of the clans, they hold the knowledge, I don’t.”

He said his grandmother was definitely Aboriginal, part of the stolen generation, and “at the time we just thought she had a good sun-tan” as it was kept quiet.

He said his family can trace their ancestry back to legendary Indigenous explorer King Bungaree, who helped colonialists map Australia.

“My cousin, Bob Waterers, who I never knew until I found out about my heritage, found a box with all the births, deaths and certificates dating back to 1772. That’s where it all started, hence the book. It wasn’t just a photo.”

“In that book, it goes all the way back, it shows you our heritage.

“We are descendants of Bungaree we can definitely trace it back to him.

“It’s crazy stuff, Nathan Moran just wants to demote us.

“It all comes back to politics. If it goes any further, we will seriously have to look at defamation. He is detracting from the Voice - I’m here to advocate for the Voice.”